What Might've Been: Big Eddie (1975)

 Sheldon Leonard moved back in front of the camera for one last run. Unfortunately, he should've convinced CBS to leave Big Eddie on Saturday nights.

Big Eddie was "sneak previewed" on 3 consecutive Saturdays, and got good reviews & ratings. Unfortunately, CBS slotted it on Fridays. Opposite Sanford & Son. Ballgame over.

Eddie Smith (Leonard, who also sang the theme song) is a retired mobster who's gone straight, running a sports arena. Sheree North plays his wife, and Quinn Cummings, who'd gain rave notices herself a few years later for "The Goodbye Girl", is Eddie's daughter. Billy Sands (ex-McHale's Navy) and Alan Oppenheimer co-star.

This was old home week, as series creators Bill Persky & Sam Denoff doubled as executive producers.

Gilmore Box provides the open.

No rating. I was doing other things on Friday nights then.